There was no mob of reporters flown in from Havana, handing out cigars to celebrate the big day, but Ariel Prieto created a stir at the Coliseum yesterday in his

major-league debut.

Prieto emigrated from Cuba in April and for the crowd at the Coliseum he was a change of pace. He worked two no-hit innings at the end of the California Angels' 7-1 rout of the A's.

"He knows how to pitch," Mark McGwire said. "As soon as he pitches more and feels comfortable, it's going to be big for us."

Unlike the Los Angeles Dodgers' Hideo Nomo of Japan, Prieto does not find himself followed by dozens of reporters from his home country. But like Nomo he has a dangerous fastball and backs it up with other quality pitches.

"Maybe the less attention he gets, the better it will be for him," said manager Tony La Russa, who announced before the game that Prieto will start one game of Saturday's doubleheader against Toronto -- then said afterward his start will come Friday night.

The A's selected Prieto, 28, in the first round of last month's draft and had a perfect opportunity to give him an appearance yesterday. Mike Harkey (4-5) gave up three runs in the first and the A's were never in this one, falling behind 7-0 by the time Prieto appeared.

"It was very important to pitch today," Prieto said through a translator. "I had to prepare myself, see some batters, get used to the reaction of the fans."

Based on the brief glimpse of Prieto yesterday, he has a knack for generating attention. His first pitch was a fastball on the inside corner that froze Damion Easley. His second pitch beaned Easley on the left forearm, knocking him out of the game. Easley required X-rays last night in Anaheim.

Easley said he won't forget Prieto's debut: "I won't -- not because he hit me, but because he did well."

Prieto does not look any more likely than Todd Stottlemyre to panic over the consequences of throwing high and tight at someone and missing. And for the record, in case anyone wants to brush up on his Spanish-language baseball terms, sinker is "seenker."

A double-play ball to Gary Disarcina removed the base runner, but then Prieto went 3-0 to Tony Phillips, who had singled twice and walked. Prieto, who could be the ultimate unknown on the mound until each team has seen him a couple times, struck out Phillips on a full-count slider.

"I have confidence in my fastball or slider," Prieto said. "(Eric) Helfand said fastball, and I said no. Then he said sinker, and I said no."

Prieto, 6 feet 3 and 225 pounds, who is the first A's draft pick to go straight to the big leagues since 1978, did not look out of place. He set down all three batters in the top of the ninth on groundouts to shortstop.

"I thought he was very impressive," La Russa said. "I thought he showed real good composure. Obviously he was bothered when he hit Easley, but he pulled himself back together."

Prieto was undefeated in five years on the Cuban National Team and set a Cuban record against Nicaragua in 1990, striking out 20. His Cuban background makes him a novelty in the big leagues and a hero to other Cuban ballplayers.

"Cuba!" Jorge Fabregas of the Angels exclaimed as he passed by Prieto outside the A's clubhouse. "Good luck."

"Are you Cuban?" Prieto called after him in Spanish, but he never got an answer. Fabregas was born in Miami, but his forebears came from the island.